County historic preservation group unveils new website

The Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County now has a new technological tool at its disposal.

The association recently announced the completion of its new website, www.hpabc.org. Created by local web designer and host John Boswell, the site is designed to perform a variety of functions.

HPA board member Judy Howser, who is also editor of the HPA newsletter and liaison for the board on matters related to the website, said it was time for the association to make use of a fully-developed website.

"This is what everyone does now. Everyone has a website," she said. "We thought we needed to do this also. We want to get our membership back up the way it used to be ... and it's a good way to advertise our historic town ... It could also bring tourists to our town. We just want to make people aware of all the history here and make it a site people really use."

The site has several purposes -- to notify the public of upcoming HPA-related events, describe and show photos of past HPA events, describe the history of the organization as well as the history of the Old Congregational Church, 502 S. National Ave., and the relocated former Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) freight depot at the corner of Wall and State streets, publish the HPA newsletter titled "Happenings," show photos of historic Bourbon County, and much more, Howser said.

"It's kind of evolving still," she said. "We want to make it a place they can go ... We'll continue to think and put more things up there."

HPA President Don Miller said he and other members of the association's board welcome suggestions for additions to the site, as well as feedback about it and HPA activities. There is a form on the website for that purpose.

According to a news release, HPA also appreciates members who choose to receive the HPA newsletter via e-mail. Members are asked to simply send a message from the website indicating they wish to receive the newsletter electronically, rather than through the postal service. This could save money on stamps -- funds that could be used for maintenance of the Old Congregational Church and the former MKT depot, both of which are owned by HPA, and other historic preservation activities.

Boswell said the site will also serve as a showcase for historic Fort Scott and the surrounding area and could help bring tourists to the area. He added that HPA board hopes the public will come to rely on the site for information about historic buildings in Bourbon County, upcoming HPA meetings and activities and as a source from which to buy historical items such as books, photos, postcards and other Bourbon County memorabilia.

Howser said the idea to create a new website came about several months ago when it was suggested at an HPA board meeting "that we have a formal site." The HPA's former web presence "wasn't well known" and was buried within another website, she said.

According to the site, the purpose of the HPA is to preserve historic sites and promote public interest in matters of historical importance to Bourbon County. Each year, the HPA matches several city of Fort Scott grants to downtown business owners for the purpose of restoring their building facades. The association also sponsors -- and sometimes co-sponsors -- history-related events and invites speakers to each of its annual meetings.